Is The Nosferatu Spider Venomous And Dangerous?

The Nosferatu spider (Zoropsis spinimana) is venomous and can pierce human skin with its chelicerae - which is what its venomous fangs are called - but it is not dangerous to humans (photo: Malcantone, Ticino, CH)

The Nosferatu spider is - like all spiders - venomous, but its bite is largely harmless to humans. The venom rarely causes more than slight reddening of the skin and is not particularly painful (comparable to a mild wasp sting or even a mosquito bite). Caution might be advised for people with allergies.

Because it is a relatively large spider, it is capable of piercing human skin with its chelicerae, but bites are very rare as the Nosferatu spider is not aggressive (unless it is defending itself or its eggs).

The Nosferatu spider does not attack humans on its own initiative; even if you pick it up, it rarely bites and usually just tries to escape (photo: Malcantone, Ticino, CH)

The Nosferatu spider owes its name to the markings on its back, which, with a little imagination, resemble a vampire's head with two hands clasped beneath it. It belongs to the family Zoropsidae and originates from the Mediterranean region. It does not build webs but pursues its prey, similar to wolf spiders (Lycosidae), with whom it is often confused.

Some people think they can see a vampire's head in the pattern on the back of Zoropsis spinimana, which is why the spider has been given the nickname “Nosferatu” in reference to the famous vampire film of the same name from 1922 (photo: Malcantone, Ticino, CH)

The spider's body grows to about 2 cm, with a leg span of up to about 6 cm (females are usually slightly larger and more robust than males). This makes it one of the largest European spiders, although the giant house spider (Eratigena atrica), which can be found in most buildings in Central Europe, is significantly larger with a leg span of up to 10 cm.

Unlike most spiders of similar size, the Nosferatu spider is able to climb glass or ceramic surfaces; it can also cross small water barriers either by swimming or, for short distances in shallow water, even by diving and moving along the bottom. Warmer average temperatures have favored its spread northwards to the UK, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland; the species likes dry and warm conditions, which is why it is often found in houses.

I found the specimen in the photos in my house in Ticino (Switzerland); I caught it with a piece of paper and a glass and released it into my garden.

Feared but harmless: the Nosferatu spider (photo: Malcantone, Ticino, CH)

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